Dismissed mother awarded £30,000

A MOTHER has been awarded over £30,000 by an employment tribunal which ruled she was unfairly dismissed for reporting an alleged rape by a work colleague at a works Christmas party.

The Scots sales rep of the unidentified company was made redundant in August, 2012 and claimed it was because she had reported the alleged rape said to have occurred in Argyll, on December, 2011.

The alleged attacker was eventually found not guilty of sexual assault following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

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The tribunal was told she had been made redundant five days after being congratulated for sales success by the managing director of the company, identified only as Mr X, who said they would buy her an i-Pad.

The mother believed she was singled out for redundancy because the alleged attacker was a friend of the owner of the parent company of the firm she worked for.

But Mr X insisted the reason was that the business was "overtrading and undercapitalised".

Margaret Gribbon, employment solicitor, instructed by Quantum Claims in Glasgow to represent the woman, identified only as Ms C, said: "I've never heard before of a woman being fired for reporting an allegation of rape at a work event. This is one of the worst cases of mistreatment in the workplace I've encountered.

"The company's belief that their conduct was capable of being defended only added to my client's torment.

"My client's decision to pursue this case is testament to her courage."

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